originally posted by Trys
At Janny's recommendation I tried a couple books by R. M. Meluch. Excellent books. They are fast action space SF with wonderful characterizations (both male and female protagonists) and twists in the plot, which is primarily socio-political) that I read the first one The Myriad: Tour of the Merrimack #1 in three days and Wolf Star: Tour of the Merrimack #2 in two days. The author pulls a bold twist near the end of the first book that took me totally by surprise. I highly recommend them.
I also just read Lee & Miller's The Crystal Dragon. A marvelous conclusion to the story started in the The Crystal Soldier. If you've not tried a Lee & Miller book, get thee hence and buy one! 
Trys
originally posted by Cheryl Detmer
Lynn Flewelling is great but please read Luck In The Shadows by her also. That series is her best and I couldn't get into the Tamir series as much. I didn't like the horror feel of it but I enjoy her writing. Luck in the Shadows is more fantasy and love the heroes Alec and Seregil. Janny and everyone here would love it too. I hear she is doing a fourth book in that series and so glad of that. Can't wait for it. I'm going to try to read Tamir again. I did like some characters in the series but I'm not a fan of someone we think is a hero changing to a heroine. At least in this series, we know it up front what's happened. This isn't a spoiler, you know up front what's going on if you read the description in the back of the first book. It was an interesting idea. I just prefer man being man and woman being woman from the get go. LOL
originally posted by Derek Coventry
You keep supplying me with fresh authors to try. So far recently I've enjoyed Sarah Zettel but found Patricia McKillip a slow read that could not keep me enthralled as some storytellers do. I've actually put 'Harpist in the Wind' aside unfinished and started Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters trilogy which has me gripped right from the start. With Fiona McIntosh's 'The Quickening' books lined up next, I just have to pace myself while awaiting SF.
originally posted by Neil
Anyone read any Kate Elliott, Stephen Erikson, Neal Stephenson.
Any recommendations / "where to start"?
originally posted by Frank T Davis
Neil,
Highly recommend Kate Elliot's "Crown of Stars" series. To my knowledge she has published six novels in the series to date and I believe that there is one more to come. The first one is entitled "King's Dragon".
At this point I have not yet read either Erikson or Stephenson, but definitely plan to in the near future. I have a followup list of 10 novels that have been recommended by this board over the past several months. Definitely have got to purchase the latest from JV Jones and Carol Berg.
For the past few months my wife has gotten me away from the Fantasy genre and into murder mysteries. Lately have been reading Lee Child, Greg Iles, Lisa Scottoline, Catherine Coulter and Nelson Demille. She has just purchased 5 of Greg Iles's books which I am looking forward to getting into. Am almost finished with Lisa Scottoline's "Mistaken Identity.
Frank
originally posted by Trys
I bought the first Stephen Erikson and got a little better than halfway through it. I found it extremely well written and plotted but also unremittingly dark and bleak. The one character that I really liked 'changed'. If you don't mind 'very dark' fantasy this may well be something that you will like.
Trys
originally posted by Cheryl Detmer
I'd like to read Stephen Erikson's book. I got it at WFC and he signed it for me but I have it sitting there to read later. If it's that dark, then I'm not sure I'll enjoy it but I'm going to try it. I found Robert Newcomb too violent for me. I like his covers and the story itself but too much violence for my reading taste. He could tone it down a bit. lol I got Raymond E. Feist's Flight of the Nighthawks for my b-day this week. I think it looks great. I never got the one with Jimmy The Hand. Did that not make it to the states? Haven't gotten iterested in Kate Elliot. I think she focus's on heroines more and I prefer more heroes for me. I know she's a great writer though with an interesting world. I might try her yet. Got stocked up on books again on b-day so I'm in book heaven again. lol
originally posted by Derek Coventry
Kate Elliot's name keeps ringing bells in my head but I can't find any of her work on my bookshelves. I'm thinking she is an author who'se work I've come across and mentally bookmarked as one to read. I have discovered she co-wrote 'The Golden Key' with Jennifer Roberson and Melanie Rawn. I highly recommend Melanie's books who is well represented on my shelves but I'm as yet unfamiliar with Jennifer Roberson.(though as the grandchild of a Robertson I wonder what happened to the 't'). I agree with Trys on Erikson.
originally posted by mk
I liked the Kate Elliot Crown Of Stars books to start with - but I gave up on I think book 5 - it just wasn't going anywhere!!! And it's VERY unusual for me to give up half way through a book - i just couldn't stay interested!!!
originally posted by Hunter
I finished Crown of Stars recently… I did enjoy the final book as it finally tied everything up… in a manner of speaking. It just had so many characters to keep track of!
originally posted by Iris
MK - I've had the same experience. It is complicated and there are a LOT of characters to keep track of. I guess at some point I will pick it up again - I've only just started book 5 and set it aside (unusual for me).
I have a long list of author's to read due to the great advise here. But, I need help with something - I have a request of everyone…
I've recently made friends with a young girl who is nearly blind and she LOVES fantasy literature. She is 14 and I need help finding some good fantasy suitable for that age. I am asking for suggestions about some of the more recent authors. I went to the book store and was overwhelmed (as usual!) - I know about the standards from my own youth (many years ago) and yet there is so much new fantasy in young adult section - I have no idea about what to recommend. If we can't find it in library for the blind, I will read the book to her - or to digital file for her to listen to when she can. She is rather conservative. We loved the Eregon and Eldest books. Harry Potter too. Any suggestions??
Thanks so much!
Iris
originally posted by Cheryl Detmer
I wish I could help. I don't read much Young Adult though anymore. At Carol Berg's group. They are giving out a great list of young adult books as recommendations now. You might want to try Carol Berg's Warrior of Two Souls Group and read those posts there, Iris.
originally posted by neil
iris,
i can recommend:
robin mckinley's damar novels (and most of her other books); plenty of heroine lead characters
philip pullman's "his dark materials"
originally posted by Bruce
I'll mentioned while Erikson's first book is very bleak, starting with the second book in his Malazan Series he does interject some humour, so it isn't all bleak.
As far as YA goes I'll mention LLoyd Alexander's Pyrdain series which is my favourite YA series, and I'll mention Scott Westerfeld's Midnighter series that is a lot of fun.
I just finished Regeneration the 3rd and final book in her Species Imperative series by Julie Czerneda which was excellent, I wallowed in this book for two weeks, normally I would have finished it in a few days, but I didn't want it to end. Very Definitely Reccommended.
originally posted by ketrilla
Kate Elliot's Jaran series is very good. I liked it a bit more than her Crown of Stars series. But I havent read the latest in either series.
originally posted by Sarah Jump
I recently read a series of young adult fantasy books by Tamora Pierce. actually two different series. 1)"circle of magic" 4 books about four children, each child has their own book. 2)"protector of the small" about a girl who wants to become a knight. both very good series.
originally posted by Derek Coventry
A favourite with my 13yo grandaughter at present are the Adventures of Lemony Snicket.
I've found Kate Elliott's 'Jaran' hiding on my shelves with Stephen Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle so now I know why the bells were ringing. I'm putting it aside for a re-read as I can't remember the story at all. With my dodgy memory it will be fresh read probably.
originally posted by Iris
Thanks for the ideas and suggestions on the YA books, (everybody) it's very appreciated. I'll check them out this week - I liked the look/sound of the Tamora Pierce books myself when looking around the shelves at them - love Lemony Snicket - most assuredly they are on the list.
Iris
originally posted by Sandtiger
For those interested, Children of Magic, edited by Kerrie Hughes and Martin H. Greenberg, came out today. This book contains my story, "Shades of Truth".
The book itself has received a starred review from Publisher's Weekly (The first DAW Anthology to get one) I've actually just finished reading it, and there are some really terrific stories.
If you want a taste, a few of us in the book posted an "Anthology Birthday Post" on Julie Czerneda's newsgroup (Complete with snippets) at: (link removed)
Sandtiger/Jana
originally posted by Trys
Congratulations Sandtiger!!